Family of 18-year-old killed by speeding police officer "extremely upset"

The family of Jasmine Veneruzzo is turning to the civil courts in hopes of getting the Ontario Provincial Police and now-retired officer Darryl Storey to admit responsibility for her death.

The news came this week after a police disciplinary hearing in Thunder Bay was cancelled.

"We are extremely upset and curious at this outcome, something we’ve waited almost 6 years to see happen," said the family in a statement emailed to CBC News.

The statement went on to say that neither the OPP nor Storey has admitted responsibility for Veneruzzo's death.

Retirement pre-empts hearing

Storey was convicted in 2013 of dangerous driving causing death after the police car he was driving at high speed collided with a vehicle driven by Veneruzzo at an intersection outside Thunder Bay. She was killed instantly. Storey served more than a year in jail.

The OPP suspended Storey with pay between Veneruzzo's death in 2008 and his conviction in 2013. The police force was seeking his dismissal at a Police Services Act hearing scheduled for Oct. 15. Storey retired in September, which meant he didn't have to attend the hearing.

The family is suing for an undisclosed amount of damages. No date has been set for trial.

Veneruzzo family proceeding with $3M suit against Ontario, former OPP officer

THUNDER BAY -- The family of Jasmine Veneruzzo says they're deeply disappointed that a Police Act hearing for former OPP Sgt. Darryl Storey will not proceed.

But they're still pushing ahead with a $3 million lawsuit against the former officer and the province of Ontario.

18-year-old Veneruzzo was killed in a 2008 collision with an unmarked OPP cruiser. The court heard that Storey was driving at around 200-kilometres per hour, and he was convicted of Dangerous Driving causing death.

He served more than a year in prison, and was released earlier this year.

A Police Act hearing for two counts of discreditable conduct was scheduled to begin this week, but Storey chose to retire instead.

Veneruzzo's parents, Brenda and Louis Veneruzzo, say they're extremely upset and want to know why the hearing did not proceed.

OPP officials were not available for comment.

The family's statement of claim seeks $3 million in damages. A status hearing for the lawsuit is scheduled for Nov. 28.

THUNDER BAY -- A lawsuit launched by the family of Jasmine Veneruzzo against a former OPP officer the province of Ontario will return to court in six months.

The 18-year-old Veneruzzo was killed in a collision with former OPP officer Darryl Storey in 2008 at the intersection of Twin City Crossroads and Highway 11/17.

During Storey’s criminal trial, the court heard he was driving an unmarked OPP cruiser at 200 kilometres per hour and he estimated he struck the teenager’s car at a speed of about 100 kilometres per hour.

He was convicted of dangerous driving causing death and served more than a year in prison.

Veneruzzo’s family is seeking $3 million in damages.

The case had a status hearing Friday afternoon at the Thunder Bay Courthouse and was adjourned until June 26.

One of two civil lawsuits filed against former OPP Sgt. Darryl Storey has been dismissed.

The family of Jasmine Veneruzzo, 18, who was killed in a collision at the intersection of Twin City Crossroads and Highway 11/17 in 2008, had filed a lawsuit against Storey and the province of Ontario alleging that Veneruzzo’s death was caused by the negligence of the defendants.

The claim, filed on behalf of the teen’s parents, siblings and grandmothers, was seeking $3 million in damages.

That suit was dismissed in November, 2015, after a confidential settlement was reached.

The fatal crash occurred on Dec. 3, 2008, just before 10 a.m. when Storey was test-driving an unmarked OPP cruiser along Highway 11-17.

He collided with Veneruzzo, who was driving a yellow Pontiac Sunfire, when she turned off of Twin City Crossroads onto the highway.

Storey was charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous driving causing death.

During Storey’s 2012 trial, the court heard Storey told an ER doctor he was driving the cruiser about 200 kilometres per hour and estimated he struck Veneruzzo’s car travelling about 100 km/h.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced to two years in prison.

A second lawsuit was filed against Storey in July, 2015, on behalf of Veneruzzo’s parents and siblings alleging the former officer published comments on Facebook in late June and early July, 2015, referring to the collision and Veneruzzo’s death.

The lawsuit is seeking about $800,000 in damages for libel and slander, intentional infliction of mental distress and nervous shock and intrusion upon seclusion as well as punitive, exemplary and aggravated damages.